Speeding teen charged after fatal motor vehicle accident kills 3

An 18-year-old Tennessee man is facing negligent homicide charges after he allegedly caused the deaths of three other people on a recent Sunday evening. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the three deceased individuals were passengers in the car that was driven by the accused teenager. All three victims of the motor vehicle accidentapparently died at the scene of the crash.

Reportedly, police in Greeneville noticed the speeding car and clocked it at a speed of 60 mph in an area where the speed limit is 30 mph. They tried to pull the driver over, but he raced away. He lost control of the vehicle as he was going into a curve and smashed into a tree in the yard of a Greeneville residence. A police report said none of the occupants of the car were restrained; however, investigators apparently concluded that the impact was such that safety belts would not have saved the lives of the passengers.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol report indicated that there was a reason to suspect that alcohol and drugs had been a factor in the tragedy. Blood samples were taken from all occupants of the car for toxicology tests. Although the driver is not suspected of driving under the influence, his blood was also drawn due to the severity of the charges against him. After medical treatment at the hospital, he was transported to the county jail.

Regardless of the outcome of the criminal charges after this motor vehicle accident, the surviving family members of the three deceased passengers may pursue financial relief. They are each entitled to obtain legal counsel and file wrongful death claims in a Tennessee civil court. If the teen driver was not the owner of the vehicle, the registered owner may also be named as a defendant. Once negligence is established, documented lists of financial and emotional damages may be presented to the court for consideration.